Colocasia plant named ‘Pharaohs Mask’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Colocasia plant named ‘Pharaohs Mask’ that is characterized by its clump forming growth habit, its plant height up to 1.5 m, its leaves that are green in color with margins that are curled under, its leaves that are green in color with margins that are curled under, its petioles that are dark black in color, and its leaf veins that are dark black in color, prominent, and raised starting at the mid-vein and running to the edge of the leaves.

Botanical classification: Colocasia hybrid.

Cultivar designation: ‘Pharaohs Mask’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, Colocasia ‘Pharaohs Mask’, relates to a new anddistinct of Colocasia plant of hybrid origin and is hereinafter referredto by its cultivar name, ‘Pharaohs Mask’. ‘Pharaohs Mask’ is a newtropical plant used as a landscape and container plant in tropical andsubtropical areas.

The new cultivar was derived from a controlled breeding programconducted by the Inventor at his nursery in Louisville, Ky. The overallpurpose of the breeding program is to make selections of Colocasiaplants with colorful foliage with distinctive leaf veins. ‘PharaohsMask’ arose from a cross made in June of 2013 between Colocasia ‘DarkStar’ (not patented) as the female parent and an unpatented and unnamedproprietary plant of Colocasia fontanesii from the Inventor's breedingprogram as the male parent. ‘Pharaohs Mask’ was selected as a singleunique plant in August of 2018 from amongst the seedlings derived fromthe above cross.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by rootcuttings by the Inventor in Louisville, Ky. in August of 2018. Asexualpropagation by root cuttings and tissue culture using meristematictissue has shown that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘Pharaohs Mask’ as a new and unique cultivar of Colocasia.

-   -   1. ‘Pharaohs Mask’ exhibits a clump forming growth habit.    -   2. ‘Pharaohs Mask’ exhibits a plant height up to 1.5 m.    -   3. ‘Pharaohs Mask’ exhibits leaves that are green in color with        margins that are curled under.    -   4. ‘Pharaohs Mask’ exhibits petioles that are dark black in        color.    -   5. ‘Pharaohs Mask’ exhibits leaf veins that are dark black in        color, prominent, and raised starting at the mid-vein and        running to the edge of the leaves.

The female parent of ‘Pharaohs Mask’ differs from ‘Pharaohs Mask’ inhaving a “v” shaped pattern on the leaf, flat leaf edges, and petiolesthat are green in color. The male parent of ‘Pharaohs Mask’ differs from‘Pharaohs Mask’ in having leaves that are dark green in color withoutdistinct veins and a taller plant height, and in lacking a clump-forminggrowth habit with runners produced. ‘Pharaohs Mask’ can be most closelycompared to the Colocasia cultivars ‘Black Sapphire Gecko’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 27,966) and ‘Nancy's Revenge’ (not patented). ‘Black SapphireGecko’ is similar to ‘Pharaohs Mask’ in having heart shaped leaves anddark black petioles. ‘Black Sapphire Gecko’ differs from ‘Pharaohs Mask’in having leaves that are dark purple-black in color on the uppersurface and maroon in color on the lower surface that lack prominentveins and curled margins. ‘Nancy's Revenge’ is similar to ‘PharaohsMask’ in having large, heart shaped leaves and a clumping growth habit.‘Nancy's Revenge’ differs from ‘Pharaohs Mask’ in having leaves that arelight green in color with creamy white centers that lack curled marginsand petioles that are green in color.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR

The Applicant asserts that no publications or advertisements relating tosales, offers for sale, or public distribution occurred more than oneyear prior to the effective filing date of this application. Anyinformation about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. The Applicant claims aprior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/orsales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to theeffective filing date. Disclosures include but may not be limited towebsite listings by Brian's Botanical (the Inventor's company), PlantsNouveau (the Inventor's representative for licensing), Little PrincePlants, Eldon Tropicals, the Plant Whore, ebay, McNaughton's GardenCenter, AG3, and Blue Moon Tropicals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Colocasia, ‘Pharaohs Mask’. Thephotographs were taken of an eight-month-old plant as grown outdoors ina trial garden in Louisville, Ky.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides an overall view of the mature foliageand plant habit of ‘Pharaohs Mask’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the upper surfaceof a leaf of ‘Pharaohs Mask’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the digitalphotography techniques available, the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description accurately describe the colors of the newColocasia.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of 2-month plants from a tissueculture plug in a 2-quart container with mature data taken from one ortwo-year-plants of the new cultivar as grown in one-gallon containersoutdoors under two mm poly in Louisville, Ky. The phenotype of the newcultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, andcultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance withThe 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London,England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—Periodically around the year depending on            temperatures in Kentucky.        -   Plant type.—Tropical perennial herb.        -   Plant habit.—Upright, stemless, clump forming.        -   Height and spread.—30 cm in height, 15 cm in width as a            one-year-old plant in a container, mature plant reaches up            to 1.5 m in height and 1.2 m in width.        -   Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 7 to 10.        -   Diseases and pests.—No resistance or susceptibility to            diseases and pests has been observed.        -   Roots.—Fleshy, NN155D in color.        -   Propagation type.—Root cuttings and tissue culture.        -   Growth rate.—Vigorous.        -   Root development.—Root initiate in 3 to 5 weeks and a young            plant is produced in 3 to 6 weeks from a rooted cutting.        -   Stem description.—Stemless, can produce large tubers with            age; formed at the base of the petioles with age, about 16            to 20 cm in diameter and 9 cm in height on a 2-year-old            plant, comprised of petiole scales, surface is rough and            paper-like, color is a blend of N199B and N199C, main tubers            are circular in shape with side tubers cylindrical in shape.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Cordate.        -   Leaf division.—Single.        -   Leaf base.—Cordate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, upper surface; raised, prominent,            N200A in color with veins extending to margin edges, lower            surface not prominent and matches leaf color.        -   Leaf margins.—Entire, slightly undulate, and strongly curled            under.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Single.        -   Leaf surface.—Upper and lower surface; glossy to slightly            glossy, rugose, coriaceous, and glabrous.        -   Leaf orientation.—Held downward.        -   Leaf color.—Both surfaces a blend of 144A and 137C.        -   Leaf size.—Average of 16 cm in length and 9 cm in width.        -   Leaf sinus depth.—Average of 3.5 cm.        -   Petioles.—Held erect to semi-erect, an average of 29 cm in            length and 1 cm in diameter, glaucescent surface, N200A in            color, the basal sheath portion is triangular in shape, top            portion round in shape.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Spadix surrounded by a spathe, male            portion held above female portion, only female flowers are            developed.        -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 26 cm in length and 2 cm            in width.        -   Inflorescence bud.—Linear to slightly narrow lanceolate in            shape, an average of 14 cm in length and 3 cm in width.        -   Flower fragrance.—None.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Inflorescence blooms            intermittently during the bloom period, individual flowers            last about 2 to 3 weeks.        -   Inflorescence/flower quantity.—An average of 150 female            flowers sessile to spadix, sessile male flowers are            undeveloped.        -   Spathe.—Hooded, bract, subtending spadix, an average of 21            cm in length and 1.5 cm in width, entire margin, bottom            portion; elliptic and balloon shaped, an average of 4.5 cm            in length and 2 cm in width, apex fused to upper portion,            truncate base, upper portion (hood); round in shape, an            average of 17 cm in length and 1.3 cm in width, acute apex,            upper and lower portion inner and outer surface; coriaceous            and smooth, color: upper portion outer surface; 151A to            151B, upper portion inner surface; 2C, lower portion outer            surface; a blend of 144B and N92A, lower portion inner            surface; 144A.        -   Spadix.—Male portion above female zone, upright linear in            shape (phallus like), apex narrowly pointed, an average of            5.5 cm in length and 6 mm in width, a mix of N187A to N187B            and N155C towards the base in color, female portion; ovate            in shape, an average of 4.7 cm in length and 1 cm in width,            a mix of N155C and 144A in color.        -   Peduncle.—Grows from base of plant, triangular in shape, an            average of 9 cm in length and 8 mm in diameter, durable and            strong, a blend of N92A and 187A, coriaceous, glabrous, and            smooth surface.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—1 minute pistil with an average of 5 carpels,            base 144A, top 150C in color, ovary is round in shape, full            of many small ovules, 2 mm in length and N155C in color.        -   Androecium.—Undeveloped.        -   Fruit and seed.—None produced.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Colocasia plant named‘Pharaohs Mask’ as herein illustrated and described.